Acura wants to prove that its RDX SUV is more than a grocery getter
The redesigned 2019 Acura RDX will race at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, one of the world's oldest and toughest automobile races. The RDX will have to handle 156 corners and thin, high-altitude air. Acura will field TLX and NSX race cars at Pikes Peak this year as well.
Tesla says driver ignored warnings from Autopilot in fatal California crash
Tesla reported that repeated Autopilot warnings were ignored prior to a fatal crash in a Tesla Model X in Mountain View, California. The National Transportation Safety Board has released its own preliminary report about the crash, noting that the driver did not have his hands on the wheel before impact.
Driverless cars: Waymo eyes Europe for launch of robot taxi services
Having achieved seven million miles of tests on public roads in the U.S., Waymo says it's now looking to introduce its autonomous-car technology in Europe. The company's boss said this week that it already has officials there investigating how local regulations might affect its efforts.
Daimler’s new E-Mobility Group rolls out two new fully electric trucks in U.S.
Claiming global trucking leadership, Daimler introduced the E-Mobility Group (EMG), focused on fully electric commercial vehicles. With two new electric-powered Freightliners, the EMG has six electric models, including four trucks and two buses. The new Freightliner eCascadia may take on the Tesla Semi.
GM adding Super Cruise to all brands eventually, all Caddys by 2020
All Cadillac models will offer the Super Cruise autonomous driving system as an option by 2020. Super Cruise will be an option on other General Motors brands later. Super Cruise hands-free driving combines precision-mapped roads and driver attention monitoring with adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assistance.
Waymo autonomous vehicles will reach 7 million test miles this week
Waymo just keeps burning up the pavement. On Tuesday, the company's chief business development officer announced that its fleet of autonomous vehicles will reach 7 million test miles driven by the end of this week. That means that Waymo's testing pace has accelerated significantly in the last month.
Audi’s new Q8 blends tech with performance heritage
Audi has released a brand-new SUV named Q8. As its clearly name implies, the Audi Q8 is positioned a notch above the existing Q7. It's a flagship in tech and performance, not size. Though the two ride on the same platform, the 2019 Q8 offers sportier handling, more tech, and a bolder design than the Q7.
Land Rover makes Scottish island less remote with potentially lifesaving project
Land Rover drivers and volunteers delivered unique three-word address plaques to 2,000 remote locations on Scotland's Isle of Mull. Residents can provide their three-word locations when they need an emergency medical response. The delivery event marks Land Rover's 70th year of humanitarian volunteerism.
Waze enlists A.I.-powered analytics company Anodot to improve driver experience
Social navigation and traffic app Waze is amping up the driving experience for its millions of global users by integrating Anodot's real-time anomaly detection and analytics throughout the Waze platform. By analyzing millions of localized data points, Anodot will result in timely routing improvements as needed.
Uber will run criminal and driving history checks for every driver every year
Uber emailed riders about three new safety programs. Riders now can share ride details with contacts and can call 911 from the Uber app. Trip and location sharing with 911 operators will be automatic in some cities. Uber also says it will run criminal background and driver history checks every year, for every driver.
Bye Apple Maps, hello Waze: CarPlay to support third-party navigation apps
Everybody loves CarPlay, but not everybody is as fond of using Apple Maps to get around. At the Worldwide Developers Conference in San Jose, California, Apple announced that CarPlay in iOS 12 will offer support for third-party navigational apps like Google Maps and Waze.
Not so fast: The Dodge Viper may not be resurrected after all
The Dodge Viper isn't coming back says Sergio Marchionne, CEO of Dodge parent Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. The sports car never made money for the company, he said. FCA will instead focus on performance models for Alfa Romeo and Maserati. Cue sounds of fan disappointment.
Chrysler may shift its focus to shared vehicles and mobility services
Chrysler may survive as a provider of vehicles produced for ridesharing services, according to a new report. That means more partnerships like the recent deal with Waymo to provide up to 62,000 autonomous minivans, as well as a decreased focus on cars that are aimed at individual buyers.
California snips legal red tape for robot taxis
Fancy a free ride in a driverless car? California is now allowing autonomous-vehicle companies to offer rides to regular folks, and they're not allowed to charge for the journey. The move follows in the footsteps of Arizona and comes as the state explores the viability of robot taxi services.
Ford’s Raptor gets a rival: Ram Rebel TRX off-roader confirmed for production
The Ram Rebel TRX off-road performance pickup truck will go into production sometime before 2022. First shown as a concept in 2016, the TRX could be the perfect rival to the Ford F-150 Raptor. Ram is also planning redesigned versions of its 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty trucks.
Jeep wants you to share a semi-autonomous SUV that can pay for parking
Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles is making investments to play catch-up in the world of tech. It's developing semi-autonomous driving technology for its Jeep, Maserati, and Alfa Romeo brands. It also announced a car-sharing program and an in-vehicle purchase service owners can use through the car's touch screen.
Alfa Romeo and Maserati promise a salvo of high-performance EVs
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is going all-in on electrification, including high-performance electric cars from Alfa Romeo and Maserati, plus plans to offer a hybrid version of every Jeep on sale. It's also investing in standard hybrid tech, gasoline-electric plug-in hybrid, and electric turbochargers.
Matt LeBlanc will call it quits after one more lap with ‘Top Gear’
Matt LeBlanc will leave BBC's Top Gear after one more season. The former Friends star said hosting requires too great of a time commitment. His last season will be his fourth with the show; he joined in 2016 as part of an ensemble of new hosts after the departure of Jeremey Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May.
Get a big discount on a Bugatti by buying it from Lego and making it yourself
We have good news if, like us, you want a Bugatti Chiron but you can't afford its $3 million price tag. You can get a big discount on the car if you're willing to build it yourself -- and buy it from Lego. The Technic kit consists of 3,599 pieces including a moving W16 engine and an adjustable rear spoiler.
Waymo orders a huge number of self-driving cars for robot taxi services
Waymo has ordered a huge number of self-driving cars for its planned robot taxi service. It currently has 600 autonomous Chrysler Pacifica minivans on the road, but it's just ordered another 62,000. Yes, you read that right: 62,000. It's not clear when they'll be ready, or how it plans to deploy all of them.
Uber in partnership talks with Waymo for self-driving technology
Uber would like to work with Waymo, Google's self-driving car division. Uber's CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said the two companies are having discussions about partnering, but Waymo declined to comment. Calling Waymo an "incredible technology provider," Uber's CEO believes autonomous driving technology will be shared.
Dodge’s 840-horsepower Challenger SRT Demon roars off into the sunset
The last Dodge Challenger SRT Demon rolled off a Canadian assembly line, closing the books on Dodge's most insane muscle car. Production was limited to one model year and 3,300 units. The final Demon and the final Dodge Viper sports car will be auctioned off together for charity.
Tesla updates Model 3 braking software, earns Consumer Reports recommendation
Consumer Reports now recommends the Tesla Model 3. Originally the Model 3's emergency braking test distance was too long, but after an OTA update, the Model 3's brakes performed in line with factory results. Tesla CEO Elon Musk delivered on his promise to do whatever it took to improve the brakes.
California testing digital license plates that cost more than your first car
California recently became the first state to test digital license plates. They're not cheap, but the city of Sacramento nonetheless purchased 24 devices as part of a pilot program. It's preparing for real-world autonomous cars tests so it likes the idea of geo-fencing cars and keeping track of them.
Audi RS3 gets an 1,180-horsepower electric makeover with Formula E racing tech
The stock Audi RS3 is a pretty fun car, but this electric version cranks things up to 11. Built by automotive supplier Schaeffler Group, it sports four electric motors from Formula E race cars, as well as an agility-enhancing all-wheel drive system with torque vectoring.
Tesla crashes into parked police car in California; driver says Autopilot was on
On May 29, a Tesla Model S crashed into a parked police car in Laguna Beach, California. The driver -- who sustained minor injuries -- reported he was using Autopilot before the impact. The investigation into the crash remains ongoing so it's too early to blame it on a malfunction or driver distraction.
Saturday is the most dangerous day to be on the road, Tuesday is safest
Did you know that Saturday is the most dangerous day to drive? While on the flipside, Tuesday is the safest day to be on the road, according to the latest study published by the NHTSA. Two of the biggest factors in these statistics: drunk driving and excessive speed.
BMW balances (and sometimes blends) tech, performance, and electrification
BMW must keep its reputation for building the ultimate driving machine intact as it incorporates growing levels of connectivity, electrification, and autonomy into its cars. That's a tall order to fill. Ralph Mahler, the brand's director of product planning, talked to Digital Trends about his strategy.
Dodge’s venomous Viper may return from the dead with big changes
After going out of production in 2017, the Dodge Viper may return. New reports claim plans for the resurrection are already in the works, and that the new Viper won't be like any previous version. A new lighter chassis and Hemi V8 power are among the biggest reported changes.
Porsche dealerships using augmented reality to diagnose and repair cars
Porsche dealerships across the nation will soon use augmented reality to diagnose and repair their customers' cars. Called Tech Live Look, the technology uses internet-connected smartglasses to connect technicians with a team of in-house experts located close to Porsche's headquarters in Atlanta.
Redesigned 2019 Acura RDX SUV’s starting price holds steady at $38,295
The 2019 Acura RDX will start at $38,295 when it hits showrooms June 1. That price includes destination charges, and buys a base model with front-wheel drive. Despite the RDX getting a full redesign for 2019, the base price doesn't represent a significant increase over pricing for the previous model year.
Hellcat-powered Toyota Prius hot rod is what happens when worlds collide
While the Toyota Prius isn't exactly sought-after by enthusiasts, American Racing Headers is here with a Hellcat engine to change that. The V8 engine has been tuned to make 1,000 horsepower and dropped on a custom-fabricated tubular frame. The PriuSRT8 runs the quarter mile in 9.3 seconds.
Tesla settles Autopilot class-action lawsuit with Model S, Model X owners
Tesla settled an Autopilot class action suit filed by Model S and Model X buyers. The suit claimed the $5,000 Autopilot option was "essentially unusable and demonstrably dangerous." Tesla will put aside $5 million+ for payments to owners and lawyers. Owners won't get paid much in the settlement.
Could fleets of self-driving cars become a public health concern?
Could self-driving and autonomous vehicles being used as public transportation be considered a public health concern? Who will keep things clean for driver-less vehicles if there's no driver to maintain it? Taxis, Ubers, and even Lyfts, have questionable levels of cleanliness already.